Title: "Come Back To Me, Luke"
Chapter: 8
Rating: PG
Summary: Will Luke survive?
Characters: Luke, Noah, Holden, Lily, Faith
Genre: AU, Drama
Warnings:
Disclaimer: This site is no way associated with "As the World Turns", CBS, P&G, or Van Hansis and Jake Silbermann. This is not for profit. No copyright infringement is intended. Authors submit and write their own work.

AN: So sorry for the long wait. Have been really hectic, then my father got in an accident on his motorcycle (thankfully all he injured was his foot) and then I got sick. Typical  Hope you´ll enjoy this chapter. Don´t forget to review.

"Are you Luke Snyder´s family," the doctor asks as he stops in front of them.

"Yes," answered Holden and placed an arm around Lily´s shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. "How is he?"

"He has been severely beaten. He has 4 broken ribs, a punctured lung, some internal bleeding which was caused by the broken ribs. He´s also dehydrated and has a kidney infection.

I´m aware that Luke only his one working kidney and we´ll keep an eye on his kidneys to make sure there´s no complications, we are keeping him in a sedated state right know, to give his body some well needed rest."

"Can we see him, doctor?" asked Lily and swiped a tear away from her cheek.

"Yes, but only two at the time tops. Preferably just one at the time, we want to keep him rested and stress free right now. If you need me just have one of the nurses call me," he said.

"Thank you so much, doctor." Lily said and pulled the doctor into a quick hug before realizing him. They doctor nodded before walking away.

"Okay, Holden and I will go in to see Luke first and then Jack can go in and then you Noah," Lily said and looked around at the others, trying to found out if they agreed with the plan.

When no one said anything she and Holden walked in to the room where the doctor had said that Luke would be in.

Noah sat down on the hard plastic chairs in the waiting room and stared out into spaces. He couldn´t believe, that because of his father, Luke was once again lying in the hospital, fighting for his life.

`Please God. Don´t take Luke away from me. I can´t lose him, I love him too much.´ He felt his heart flutter a little at the thought of his love for Luke.

It had become impossible for Noah, not to love Luke.

That´s was how Holden and Lily found him an hour later, staring into space with a smile crossing his features.

Noah jumped when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up and saw that Lily was standing beside him. "Come on, Noah, it´s your turn to see Luke."

Noah stood up a bit cautiously, Lily could see that he was nervous so she gently placed her hand on his shoulder and gave it a squeeze.

"Come on Noah, it´s all right. We are going to see Luke." Noah didn´t say anything, he just looked at her and slowly walked in the direction she guided him in.

He stopped in front of the door. He turned to her slowly.

"Do you mind if I …" he started to ask but let the end of the sentence hang in the air. Luckily Lily understood, she nodded and smiled reassuringly at him.

"Holden and I will be right out in the waiting room," she said. She kissed him on the cheek and he watched her as she walked back to the waiting room, back into Holden´s reassuring arms.

Noah slowly turned back towards the door. He took a couple of deep breaths, as a way to prepare himself. He didn´t know what to expect when he walked in that door, he prepared for the worst.

Slowly he raised his left arm and placed it flat on the door. He closed his eyes as he pushed the door open and took a step into the room.

He thought of Luke, the way he had last seen him.

Happy and smiling.

With that pictured still in the forefront of his memory, he opened his eyes. He couldn´t help but gasp at the sight of Luke.

He was covered to halfway up his chest with a blanket, tubes in his arms and looking very pale. On his arms and his face where bruises, Noah cursed under his breath thinking about what Luke must have gone through the last couple of days.

What surprised him the most was, that underneath all the bruises and tubes Luke was still breathtakingly beautiful.

Noah walked to the side of the bed and sat down in the chair next to the bed.

He felt the tears coming to his eyes and running down his cheeks as he took Luke´s hand in his and gave it a squeeze, to let Luke know that he was there.

Now Luke just needed to find his way back to him. Noah would be ready when Luke woke up; he just hoped that it would be sooner rather than later.

A couple of days passed by and it seemed like all Holden and Lily did was argue. Ever since they learned that Col. Mayer had been in on Luke´s kidnapping, it was like Holden blamed Lily for not telling him that she and Dusty suspected the Colonel for killing Noah´s mother.

Noah sat besides Luke´s bedside all day, holding his hand and reading to him, letting Luke know that he was there.

It was clearly that Luke was doing better when it was Noah, who was sitting beside him; it was almost as if he could feel the tension between his parents and it affected his recovery.

Suddenly he heard Faith almost yelling in the hallway: "Shut up! Luke is lying in there unconscious. He needs us and all you can do is argue. I´m glad he has Noah," Noah couldn´t help but smile when he heard that. "Go away and don´t come back before you can be civil to each other."

Holden and Lily became very quiet and Noah could see them walking away as Faith pushed the door open and walked in the room.

"Hi, how is he?" She asked and looked at her brother lying in the bed.

"Better," Noah said and smiled at her. He was very impressed at she had stepped up and protected Luke, when he couldn´t do it himself.

"Your sister is here, so I´m going to leave you two to talk," he said as he stood up and leaned down to kiss Luke on the forehead.

"Please stay Noah, I brought a new book, maybe you could read a little to us," she said and smiled at him. Noah sat down again and took Luke´s hand again.

He smiled when he saw that Faith took Luke´s other hand in hers as she waited for Noah to start reading.

When the night came Noah put the book down. His throat was starting to get sore, but as long as Luke needed him to site by his bedside and talk or read, he would be there.

He would do anything for Luke. He stood up and went through the routine he did every night. He took both of Luke´s hands in his and kissed him on the top and underside of his wrist, where he could see the irritation caused by the handcuffs.

He kissed Luke on the forehead and both eyelids, and finally, on the lips before he whispered to Luke: "Come back to me, Luke."

He settled in the tear and leaned his head on Luke´s bed besides their clasped hands.